Tumbélé: Biguine, Afro and Latin Sounds from the French Caribbean, 1963-1974 (Soundway SNDWCD017P, 2009) While the slickly produced sounds of zouk became wildly popular in…
In the Biguine-ing
Category: Album reviews
A Wink to Quebec’s Musical Future
Le Vent du Nord La Part du Feu (Borealis Music, 2009) Canadian band Le Vent du Nord’s recording La Part du Feu is a winner.…
Rich and Warm as the Finest Liqueur
Cesaria Evora Nha Sentimento (Lusafrica, 2009) With thousands of adoring fans, six Grammy Award winning recordings to her name and a voice as rich and…
Desirable Tea
Tea Dreams (Teajuana Music, 2009) Tea is a Los Angeles-based group formed by French guitarist Franck Balloffet and American drummer and keyboardist Phil Bunch. Their…
We Three Strings
Les Triaboliques – rivermudtwilight (World Village 468088, 2009) Justin Adams, Lu Edmonds and Ben Mandelson could have all been content in their careers as successful…
Fine Plena Indeed
Miguel Zenon Esta Plena (Marsalis Music, 2009) If Marsalis Music signs you, it means you are above average in the world of American jazz. Puerto…
Keeping Colombian Tradition Alive
Toto la Momposina La Bodega (Astar Artes, 2009) Toto la Momposina is a national treasure in Colombia. She has spent most of her life researching…
Essential Franco
Franco Francophonic, Vol. 2 (Stern’s Africa, 2009) Francophonic, Vol. 2 introduces the listener to additional essential recordings by Franco, one of the greatest African musicians…
Extravagantly Lush Rupa
Rupa and the April Fishes Este Mundo (Cumbancha, 2009) Back in 2008, I waxed poetic about the Bay Area musical group Rupa and the April…
Simpson’s Stories
Martin Simpson True Stories (Compass, 2009) Guitarist and singer-songwriter Martin Simpson has become one of the most important figures in English folk music. He is…